Grave covering apparatus



Oct. 22, 1935. N R MOORE 2,018,277

GRAVE COVERING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l dttcwmq amen 6oz Oct. 22, 1935. N. R. MOORE GRAVE COVERING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1934 atkomwq Oct. 22, 1935; N. R. MOORE GRAVE COVERING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 a an Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 24 Claims.

The invention relates to mechanism for apparatus intended for use by morticians, funeral directors and the like for the purpose of covering a grave automatically as the casket is lowered.

It is well known that at cemetery services it has now become the practice to place within and about a grave a lining or covering of material which is formed as the representation of grass mats, the purpose being to cover the raw soil and detract from the harsh and cold appearance of the grave. It is also known that numerous me-' chanical devices have been devised for the purpose of gently and slowly lowering the casket as the ceremony progresses, such devices rendering unnecessary the presence of mechanics with the well known hand lowering straps or other devices of the past. However, notwithstanding the progress which has been made along the above mentioned two lines, there still exists a certain amount of shock to the feelings of bereaved spectators when the casket disappears into the yawning void of the grave and it is on account of this latter mentioned fact that I have devised the present invention which has for its general object the provision of novel means associated with and operated by the casket lowering mechanism for automatically drawing and folding the imitation grass mats over the top of the grave as the casket is lowered, the grave being consequently covered by a mound of mat-like material which appears to be sod, thus creating an impression far less harrowing to the sentimentalities of bereaved spectators than would otherwise be the case.

An important object of the invention is to provide a grave cover applying means which may be attached to and used in conjunction with an ordinary type of casket or vault lowering mechanisrn, various features of adjustment being provided for the purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover applying mechanism which may be used to equal advantage in association with caskets or vaults, a simple adjustment being provided which will take care of the difference in the height of the two types of receptacles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grave cover applying mechanism equipped with means which may be disposed against a wall of the grave for bracing purposes or which may be engaged within the rough box for the purpose of guiding the casket thereinto so as to avoid the possibility of the casket striking against the edge of the rough box as may occur in the event that the walls of the grave are not exactly plumb.

A still further object is to provide a mechanism of this character which is collapsible for convenience in transportation but yet which will be rigid when in set up condition ready for use.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which 5 will be noiseless in operation.

An additional object is to provide a device of this type and for this purpose which in addition to possessing the above mentioned advantageous characteristics will be simple and inexpensive to 10 make, easy to set up and adjust, positive in action, efficient in operation, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention preferably 15 consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the device shown in association with a conventional type of casket lowering mechanism,

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the device 5 adjusted or arranged to guide the casket into the rough box,

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an elevation of the device with 30 parts broken away and in section and showing one side extended and the other folded,

Figure 5 is a vertical or longitudinal section taken centrally through the device,

Figure 6 is a vertical or longitudinal section 35 taken at right angles to Figure 5 and showing the adjustment features,

Figure 7 is a plan view of what is shown in Figure 4,

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view showing the 40 operating treadle in extended position,

Figure 9 is a similar view showing the treadle in lowered and locking position,

Figure 10 is a vertical or longitudinal section 5 looking at the rear of what is shown in Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view taken on the line ll-ll of Figure 4,

Figure 12 is a section taken on of Figure 11,

Figure 13 is a detail sectional view taken on the line l3--I3 of Figure 12,

Figure 14 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line l4-l4 of Figure 4,

Figure 15 is a detail view showing one of the 55 the line I2-I 2 elements engaging within the pipe or tubular member carrying the mat,

Figure 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pipe or tubular member itself.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates a grave within which, as shown in Figure 2, there is located a rough box B to receive the casket, not shown. Mounted in the usual manner upon the surface of the ground at the grave is a conventional type of lowering mechanism here represented as including corner uprights C upon which or within which are mounted rotatable side rails D carrying the usual webs or straps E upon which the casket, or the vault as the case may be, is initiallyplaced, the casket or vault being permitted to descend by the unwinding of these webs or straps from the side rails D as they are permitted to rotate by the weight of the casket upon the straps or webs. Of course it is well known that a lowering 7 mechanism involves or embodies a brake structure which controls the rate of descent of the casket or vault as the ceremony progresses. The present invention is not at all concerned with the lowering mechanism itself as it can be used in connection with various types. 7

In carrying out the invention I provide two structures or devices which are duplicates, one being located at eachend of the grave and attached to the cross rails F of the lowering device. Each of these devices comprises an upright 20 channel shaped in cross sectionas clearly indicated in Figure 14 and connected at its upper end with a T-shaped head 2| which may be conveniently formed as a casting and to which are pivoted, at 32, arms 23 within which are telescopically slidably engaged extensions 24 terminating in saddle members 25 of semicylindrical shape designed and adapted to be engaged upon the side rails D of the lowering mechanism. In order to avoid or reduce friction between the side rails and the saddle members, the latter are preferably equipped with ball bearings 26 located within recesses 21 and retained therein by means of apertured plates 28 secured in place as by screws 29, as clearly shown in Figures 12 and 13. Obviously these bearing balls 26 will contact with the side rails of the lowering mechanisrn'and will turn in the recesses within which they are disposed as the lowering mechanism is operated to permit descent of the casket or vault. For the purpose of holding the arms 23 in extended position at right angles to the upright 20, I provide braces formed of sections 30 and 3| pivotally connected at 32 with a rule joint and pivotally connected with the upright and arms at brackets 33 and 34, respectively. The extended position of one of thearms is shown at the left side of Figure 4 V and the folded position is shown at the right side of the same figure, it being noticeable that when the rule joint 32 is broken and the brace sections 30 and 3! folded to lie against each other the arm 23 will extend down alongside the upright 20 and in parallel relation thereto so that the device will occupy butlittle space instorage or during transportation.

sides of the grave in parallel relation to the side rails D of the casket lowering mechanism. The purpose of these slots 44 is to enable thepipes 45 to be detached from the arms 43 when it is necessary or desirable to transport the device. It 5 will be noted that the extensibility of the arms 23, that is to say their provision with the extensions 24 carrying the saddle members 25, will enable the device to be used in association with lowering devices adjusted for graves of widely 1Q varying widths. The purpose of the adjustably disposed ball members 40 will be explained hereinafter as the adjustability is necessary depending upon whether a casket or a vault is to be buried. The arms 23 and the extensions 24 slidably engaged therewithin are formed with slots 46 and 41, respectively, for the accommodation and to permit sliding movement of the angular arms 43 which drag or carry the pipes with them.. It is of course to be understood that 20 I along the slot 48 and equipped, preferably, with 30 a wing nut 5! which is provided for the purpose of enabling this plate to be secured at any desired vertically adjusted position depending upon whether it is necessary or desirable to handle a casket or a vault. The plate 49 also carries a 5 screw 52 slidable along the slot 48 and equipped with a nut 53 but this is simply for guiding purposes as the screw carrying the wing nut 5| is sufficient for clamping purposes to maintain adjustment. w

slidably mounted within the channel shaped upright or standard 20 is a carriage 54 of any ordinary or preferred construction and equipped with a screw eye or hook 55, or its equivalent,

with which is connected the lower end of one of 45.,

the cables 38 or 39, the two being connected with each other at some point above the screw eye though it is of course conceivable that both of the cables might be extended to the screw eyeif preferred. The point is that when this carriage or 50 frame 54 moves, the cables and consequently the angular arms 43 will move correspondingly.

Pivoted at 56 within the frame or carriage 54 is a' treadle of trip arm 51 which normally projects horizontally and which is disposed in the path of travel of the casket or vault so as to beengaged thereby for the purpose of applying a pull upon the cables 38 and 39 for moving the pipes or tubular members 45 toward each other to draw the imitation grass mats over the grave. connected at 58 with each treadle 51 is a rod 59 extending through a. coil spring 60 and slidable through a cylindrical member 6| pivoted within the upright or standard 20. The frame or carriage 54 is represented as equipped with wheels or rollers 62 which bear against the inner walls of the channel shaped upright 20, these wheels being for the purpose of insuring free vertical movement of the carriage when the treadle 51 1s engaged and depressed by the casket or vault.

The treadle 51 travels within the standard or upright 20 when engaged by the casket or vault. and to make this movement free and easy it is preferable to provide a wheel or roller 63 which Pivotally is journaled at the lower portion and which bears against the vertically adjustable plate 49.

In order to brace the device against the wall of the grave or to effect guiding of the casket into the rough box H, I provide a casting 64 at the lower end of the upright or standard 20, this casting being provided with vertically extending holes 65 through which extend angularly shaped rods 66 Which diverge and which are held in adjusted position by means of set screws 61, the purpose being that these rods may be adjusted rotatably so as to engage against the end wall I of the grave as shown in Figure 5 or within the rough box H as shown in Figure 2, depending upon circumstances. These rods 66 are of course longitudinally adjustable to take care of the depth at which the rough box is disposed.

Another feature of importance is the ability of the device to be associated with lowering devices of different types. As all such lowering devices embody telescopically engaged transverse members F it becomes necessary to provide a mode of attachment of the device to the lowering mechanism, such attachment being necessarily adjustable for obvious reasons. In the present instance I have shown the heads or castings 2! as formed with sockets 68 receiving stubs 69 projecting from inverted semicylindrical saddle members 10, set screws H being provided for the purpose of maintaining an adjusted position.

In the use of the device, it should be understood that one is located or disposed at each end of the grave, the saddle member 10 of each being engaged over a transverse member F and the saddle members 25 being engaged over the side rails D of the lowering mechanism. Owing to the provision of the ball bearings 26 it is clear that the side rails of the lowering mechanism may turn freely with respect to my attachment without undue friction. The end rails F do not turn so there is no necessity for any friction eliminating features at this point. The rods 66 are adjusted to bear either against the end wall I of the grave or against the inside of the rough box, depending upon which is preferred. In some cases it occurs that the walls of the grave are not exactly plumb and in such an event it is highly desirable to dispose the rods 66 within the rough box so that the casket will be guided thereinto.

The position'of the treadle 51 depends upon whether a casket or a vault is to be buried. If a casket is to be deposited, of course within the usual rough box, the plate 49 is disposed at the upper limit of its movement and is secured by tightening the wing nut 5|. This means that a larger portion of the slot 48 is exposed. Assuming that this is the condition, and that the treadles 51 at the two ends of the grave project horizontally at their uppermost elevation, it will be seen that when the casket is placed upon the straps or webs E and the-lowering mechanism is operated, when the casket, in its descent, strikes against the two treadles 51, it will move them downwardly, thereby applying a pull upon the cables 38 and 39, and drawing the arms 43 toward each other by virtue of the fact that the stops 4!! will engage against these arms. Inasmuch as the imitation grass mats are draped over the pipes or tubular members 45 it is clear that the engagement of the angular arms 43 within these pipes will draw them toward each other, thereby moving the grass mats over the grave in elevated position with respect thereto, depending upon the height of the standards C and producing the effect of a grass mound position by the springs 60.

which will be much less harsh than either an open grave or a bank of clay.

In some instances the casket is originally enclosed within a steel box or vault and in such an event there is no necessity for using a rough box. Under such circumstances it is necessary to lower the treadles 5! owing to the diiference in height or depth of a vault as compared with a casket. Such being the case the wing nut 5| is loosened so that the plate 49 may be slid down to the lower 10 limit of its movement, after which the Wing nut is retightened. The treadles 51 at the two ends of the grave are then of course several inches lower than is the case when a casket is to be buried. When the lowering mechanism of any type employed is operated the vault will be lowered and when it strikes the two treadles 51 it will move the carriage 54 downwardly. This action is the same regardless of whether a casket or a vault is to be buried and when the treadles are moved 20 downwardly, they will slide within the standards or uprights 26 until they reach the lower ends oi the slots 48 whereupon there is nothing to hold them horizontal and they will therefore swing downwardly from the horizontal position shown '25 in Figure 8 into the vertical position shown in Figures 9 and 10. When this occurs the heel por- -tions of the treadles will engage against the lower ends of the slots 48, the treadles being maintained in this position owing to the fact that the 30 rods 59 go past center and are maintained in such Owing to this condition the cables 38 and 39 are held under tension with the pipes or tubular members 45 drawn closely together. The advantage of this is that 35 the weight of the artificial grass mats cannot draw the pipes or tubular members 45 apart and they will be consequently held close together so that the mats will meet at the longitudinal center line of the grave, thereby producing the effect 01' 4o sodding and consequently shielding the grave so that it will have the appearance 01' being entirely covered over and hiding the soil.

From the above description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus 45 provided a comparatively simple and yet highly efficient device for the purpose specified. Owing to the pivotal mounting of the arms it is clear that they may be folded down to extend along the uprights 20 as indicated at the right side of 50 Figure 4 for convenience in transportation and storage. Moreover owing to the fact that the rods 66 are not only adjustable but also removable the length of the device may be materially reduced. The adjustability as to the length of 55 the stubs 68 will enable the device to be used in association with lowering devices of diiferent types and the same is true of the extensibility of the members 24 with respect to the members 23 in order to compensate for differences in the widths of different graves. In case caskets of difierent heights or depths are to be buried the adjustability of the plate 49 is of importance as it is not necessary that this plate be disposed at the extreme maximum or the extreme minimum height, any variation in inches of the depth or height of the casket being taken care of by this adjustable feature. Another feature of note is that owing to the provision of the rod 59 and 7 spring 66 which constitute a beyond center look any retrograde movement of the mats is prevented. In addition, the entire device has proved to be noiseless in operation. It is thought from the foregoing that the construction, operation 15 scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a casket lowering mechanism, a pair of devices disposable at the ends or a grave, means on said devices engaging and supported upon the lowering mechanism, a pair of members slidably mounted transversely along said means and treadle means engageable by a casket or vault and connected with said members for moving the same toward each other.

2. In combination with a casket or vault lowering mechanism, a pair or" devices disposable at the ends of a grave and equipped with means engageable upon said lowering mechanism, a pair of members slidable transversely of said devices and treadle operated means engageable by a casket or vault for moving said members toward each other.

3. In combination with a casket or vault lowering mechanism, a pair of devices disposable at the ends. of a grave and equipped with means engageable upon said lowering mechanism, a pair of members movable transversely of said devices, treadle means in the path of and engageable by a casket or vault and connected with said memhere for moving said members toward each other, and means for permitting retraction of said treadle means from the path of the casket or vault after predetermined downward movement thereof.

4. In combination with a casket or vault lowering mechanism, a pair of devices disposable at the ends of a grave, a pair of members movable transversely of said devices and adapted to carry artificial grass mats, treadle means engageable by a casket or vault during the descent thereof for,

moving said members toward each other, and means for rendering said treadle means ineffective alter predetermined travel thereof.

5. In combination with a casket or vault lowering mechanism embodying rotatable side rails, a pair of devices disposable in vertical position at the ends of a grave and supportable upon said side rails, said devices embodying membersslidable transversely therealong and adapted for engagement within hems formed in artificial grass mats, treadle means operatively connected with said members and engageable by a casket or vault for sliding said members toward each other for drawing the mats horizontally over the grave, and means for adjusting the verticalposition of said treadle means. 7

6. In combination with a casket or vault lowering mechanism, a pair of devices disposable at the ends of a grave and embodying uprights equipped with supporting arms supportable upon the side rails of the lowering mechanism, transverse members extending longitudinally of the grave and slidable along said supporting members and adapted for engagement with artificial grass mats, treadle members movable vertically along said uprights and adapted for engagement by a casket or a vault, and means for'adjusting the operative position of said treadle members.

abling'said treadles to move into non-obstructing relation to the casket or vault during the descent thereof. 1 r

8. In combination with a casket lowering mechanism including corner posts and rotatable side rails, a pair of devices disposable at the ends of a grave and including uprights equipped with lateral arms engageable upon said side rails, members extending longitudinally ofthe grave and movable transversely upon said arms, treadles vertically movable along said uprights, flexible members connected with said treadles and said transversely movable members, and means enabling said treadles to move into nonobstructing relation to the casket or vault during the descent'thereoi, said treadle members being mounted upon carriages.

9. In combination with a casket lowering mechanism including corner posts and rotatable side rails, a pair of devices disposable at the ends of a grave and including uprights equipped with lateral arms engageable upon said side rails, members extending longitudinally of the grave and movable transversely upon said arms, treadles vertically movable along said uprights, flexible members connected with said treadles and said transversely movable members, and means enabling said treadles to move into nonobstrueting relation to the casket or vault during the descent thereof, said treadle members being mounted upon carriages and being operable to lock the carriages against upward movement whereby said flexible members will be maintained under tension.

10. An attachment to a casket lowering mechanism involving rotatable side rails, comprising a pair of substantially T-shaped members disposable at the ends of a grave and supportable upon the side rails of the lowering mechanism'members extending longitudinally of the grave and slidable transversely of said T-shaped members and adapted to have artificial grass mats engaged thereon, and treadles projecting substantially horizontally from said T-shaped members in the path of descent of a casket or vault and operatively connected with said transversely movable by a casket or vault.

11. An attachment to a casket lowering mechanism involving rotatable side rails, comprising a pair of substantially T-shaped members disposable at the ends of a grave and supportable upon the side rails of the lowering mechanism, members extending longitudinally of the grave and slidable transversely of said T-shaped members and adapted to have artificial grass mats engaged thereon, treadles projecting substantially horizontally from said T-shaped members in the path of descent of a casket or vault and-operatively connected with saidtransverse movable members for moving the same upon engagement by a casket or vault, and means carried by the lower ends of said T-shaped members for guiding a casket into a box at the bottom of the grave.

12. An attachment to a casket lowering mechar members for moving the same upon engagement nism involving rotatable side rails, comprising a pair of substantially T-shaped members disposable at the ends of a grave and supportable upon the side rails of the lowering mechanism, members extending longitudinally of the grave and slidable transversely of said T-shaped members and adapted to have artificial grass mats engaged thereon, treadles projecting substantially horizontally from said T-shaped members in the path of descent of .a casket or vault and operatively connected with said transversely movable members for moving the same upon engagement by a casket or vault, means for varying the position at which said treadles become operative, and means for adjusting the position at which said treadles release.

13. In combination with a casket or vault lowering mechanism including rotatable side rails, a pair of devices disposable at the ends of a grave and each including an upright and laterally extending arms disposable upon said side rails, members extending longitudinally of the grave at the sides thereof and slidable upon said arms, carriages movable vertically along said uprights, treadles pivotally mounted on said carriages and fiexibly connected with said transversely movable members, said treadles being in the path of move ment of a casket or vault deposited within the grave, and means enabling said treadles to pivot out of the path of travel.

14. In combination with a casket lowering mechanism including rotatable side rails, a pair or T-shaped members disposable at the ends of a grave and including uprights and laterally extending arms disposable upon said side rails, carriages slidable along said uprights, treadles normally extending horizontally from and pivoted to said carriages, said treadles being in the path of descent of a casket or vault, members extending longitudinally of the grave and movable transversely of said arms toward each other and adapted to be engaged with artificial grass mats, means flexibly connecting said treadles with said transversely movable members, and means for enabling said treadles to swing down into nonobstructing relation to the casket or vault after the same has descended to a predetermined extent.

15. An attachment to a casket lowering mechanism involving rotatable side rails, comprising a pair of uprights disposable at the ends of a grave and having laterally extending arms supportable upon said side rails, members extending longitudinally of the grave and movable transversely of said arms and adapted to have artificial grass mats engaged thereon, treadles projecting normally horizontally from said uprights and slidable therealong and disposed in the path of travel of a casket or vault, cable connections between said treadles and said transversely movable members, and means on said uprights for controlling the point at which said treadles may swing down out of the path of travel of the casket or vault.

16. An attachment for a casket lowering mechanism including rotatable side rails, comprising a pair of T-shaped members disposable at the ends of a grave and each including an upright and laterally extending arms, members extending longitudinally of the grave and slidable trans- .versely upon said arms toward each other, said members being adapted for engagement with artificial grass mats for drawing the same up over the grave, said uprights being formed with slots, carriages slidable within the uprights, cables connected with said carriages and with said transe of said slots for determining the point of down 5 ward swinging of the treadles out of the path of movement of the casket or vault.

17. An attachment for a casket lowering mechanism including rotatable side rails, comprising a pair of T-shaped members disposable at the My ends of a grave and each including an upright and opposite laterally extending arms pivoted to the upright, said arms terminating in saddle elements engageable upon said rotatable side rails,

members extending longitudinally of the grave 15 and slidable transversely along said arms toward each other, said members being adapted for engagement with artificial grass mats for drawing the same up over the grave, and treadle members slidable along said uprights, projecting into the 20 path of travel of a casket or vault .and operatively connected with said members for drawing them together along said arms.

18. An attachment for a casket lowering mechanism including rotatable side rails, comprising 25 a pair of T-shaped members disposable at the ends of a grave and each including an upright and opposite laterally extending arms pivoted to the upright, said arms terminating in saddle elements engageable upon said rotatable side rails, mem- 30 bers extending longitudinally of the grave and slidable transversely along said arms toward each other, said members being adapted for engagement with artificial grass mats for drawing the same up over the grave, treadle members slidable 35 along said uprights, projecting into the path of travel of a casket or vault and operatively connected with said members for drawing them together along said arms, said arms being ioldable to lie against the upright when the devices are 0 not in use, and movable braces connecting the arms with the upright for maintaining them in horizontal position when the devices are in use.

19. An attachment for a casket lowering mechanism including rotatable side rails, comprising 45 a pair of T-shaped hollow members disposable at the ends or a grave and each including an upright and laterally extending arms engageable upon said side rails, carrier elements within said arms movable longitudinally thereof and pro- 5 jecting through slots therein, members extending longitudinally oi. the grave and slidable transversely upon said arms toward each other and detachably connected with said carrier elements, said members being adapted for connection with 55 artificial grass mats for drawing the same up over the grave, treadle members slidable along said uprights and located in the path of descent 01' a casket or vault, and flexible members within the uprights and extending into the arms and 60 connected with the treadle members and said carrier elements for sliding said members toward each other when the treadle members are moved down.

20. An attachment for a casket lowering mechca anism including rotatable side rails and stationary end rails, comprising a pair 01' T-shaped members disposable at the ends oi. a grave and each including an upright and laterally extending arms, saddle elements on said arms engageable 70 upon said rotatable side rails, other elements carried by said T-shaped members and engageable upon the end rails, members extending longitudinally of the grave and slidable transversely upon said arms toward each other, said members being 76 6' adapted for engagement with artificialgrass mats for drawing the same up over the grave, rods carried by and projecting downwardly from the lower'end of each upright and engageable within a box in the bottom of the grave for steadying said T-shaped members and for guiding a casket into the box, treadle members slidablealong saiduprights, and projecting'into the path of travel of a descending casket, and operative connections be ween the treadle members and said members for drawing the latter together upon downward movement of the treadle members. 7

2 1 A mechanism of the character described comprising a pair of devices disposableat the ends of a grave, a pair of members slidably mounted transversely along said devices and connectible vlrith artificial grass mats, and treadle means adapted to extend down into the grave and engageable by a casket or vault and connected with said members for sliding the same toward each other and thereby drawing the grass mats over the grave. g V

22. A grave coveringmechanism comprising 'a v pair of devices disposable atthe ends of a grave 25 during lowering thereof and connected with said members for sliding thefsa'me toward each other and thereby drawing the grass mats over the grave.

23. A grave covering mechanism comprising a pair of supports disposable at the ends of agrave and including depending portions, a pair of members slidable along said supports and adapted 'for connection with artificial grass mats,treadles slidable along said depending portions of the sup- 10;

ports and disposable in the path of travel of a casket or vault during lowering thereof, and means connecting said treadles with saidmembers for sliding the latter towardeach other when the former are'moved downwardly.

24. A grave covering mechanism comprising a 7 pair of supports disposable at the ends of a grave and including depending portions, a pair of mem bers slidable along said supports and adapted for connection with artificial grass mats, treadies i slidable along said'depending portions of the supports and disposable in the path of travel of a casket or vault during lowering thereof; means connecting said treadles with said members for sliding the latter toward each other when the former are moved downwardly, and means for rendering said treadle means ineffective after predetermined travel thereof.

NINIAN R. MOORE. 

